Incredibly Frustrating

Incredibly frustrated when service staff at the frontline can’t speak even one word of English (supposed to be the working language in Singapore?).

But seriously I don’t mind if I see that they put in effort and perhaps we could use a sort of sign language. Even a small smile makes a difference to me. Just the teeniest bit of effort.

But it’s worse when they don’t and except that you speak their language and make you feel like you’re the one at fault instead. That is when I feel extremely marginalized and alienated. I feel that unless you’re in the same situation you won’t be fully able to understand how upsetting this can be. You’ll probably think we’re making a mountain out of a molehill.

Whether this is politically correct or not, today, I don’t care. Just needed to vent because I am so peeved.

I wish there was some device that could translate vocalizations from one language into another. Perhaps that would solve issues in the future and no one needs to feel shut out.

I’ve met frontline staff who can’t speak English but really try as they have learnt to say Hello and Bye Bye….& that really puts a smile on my face. But it’s when there is zero effort and they seem disgruntled that we can’t accommodate them that it totally frustrates me. They made me feel like there is something wrong with me. I would even appreciate if you hold up a paper saying sorry I can’t speak English than to stare at me blankly.

Some make an effort by calling upon a staff member who can speak English…that I truly appreciate as well.

It’s like someone going to France to work and expecting the person at the store to speak English. French is the official language so the onus is on you to learn a few words of French. Even two words like Bonjour and Merci perhaps? This is just how I feel.

I totally get that and it is annoying. This includes office places where people leave you out and I realized that in Lot of jobs involving talking to people, you need to know Chinese when they claim English is the official language

yes it really makes you feel marginalized at the workplace….I feel you.

No matter what language…when everyone else is speaking it and you’re the only one who doesn’t understand it feels like they have built a wall around you…incredibly alienating. Especially when the everyone else is able to speak the language you understand but choose not to..or just are oblivious and forget.